Route of the Battle of Torfou via the Sèvre Nantaise

de fr

This circular route crosses the Torfou countryside and runs alongside the Sèvre Nantaise stream. It offers diverse landscapes with rivers and ponds, then a path passing by the Pierre Tournisse and offering a view of the Château de Barbe Bleue, so nicknamed because of its most infamous resident, Gilles de Rais.

Details

n°2288462
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 105 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 105 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 112 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 43 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Along the Sèvre before Tiffauges
Colours and fallen leaves on the Torfou Rocks trail
At the bend of a farm

Description of the walk

Park at Place Clemenceau in front of the town hall. Follow the blue markings throughout the hike

(S/E) Go down Rue Nationale. You will soon reach the Impasse du Ruisseau crossroads.

(1) Continue straight ahead to reach the bottom of the village. Before the right-hand bend, turn left just after the directional signs and go up Rue du Pas Larron.
At the end of the street, take Rue des Trois Provinces on the right towards La Bruffière, crossing the railway line, and continue to the roundabout.

(2) Take the second right and continue straight along the RD146, following the path between the fields and the road to reach the houses of La Grande Chauvière.

(3) Take the path on the left. At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto the path that runs alongside the Sèvre river on your right. Follow theGRP® Sèvre et Maine trail, marked in red and yellow, which runs alongside the Sèvre river to the Torfou valley.

(4) Cross the village and turn left onto Chemin du Raidillon, just before the D753. Continue to the Retailleau arch at Maison Neuve, going straight on after the path. Then take the road on the left at Maison Neuve. Pass through the village of La Barre and turn left onto the road. You will come to a crossroads by a pond.

(5) Take the path on the right at the Barre cross. Continue straight ahead and cross the bridge over the railway line and continue to the RD149.

(6) Cross it carefully to take the path opposite and continue straight ahead. At the first crossroads with the village road, continue straight ahead to the Petitière cross.

(7) Turn right onto the RD146 and follow it for a few metres before turning onto a path on the left. Continue and cross the Bon Débit stream at the Gui bridge. When you reach the road at the Moyenne Tiboire farm, turn left. Then take the path on your right after the village of Basse Tiboire. Follow it until it turns at a right angle to the left. Continue along this path to reach the Bon Débit stream again at the Pont des Roches bridge.

(8) Cross it and continue to Pierre Tournisse. Pass under it and continue straight ahead along the stream. When you reach the pond, walk along it and turn left towards Impasse du Ruisseau. Walk up this cul-de-sac to Rue Nationale to return to the original crossroads.

(1) Turn left. Follow Rue Nationale to Place Clemenceau, the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 104 m - Parking Place Clémenceau
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 98 m - Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 1.14 - alt. 95 m - Roundabout
  4. 3 : km 2.27 - alt. 77 m - Houses of La Grande Chauvière
  5. 4 : km 4.93 - alt. 49 m - Crossing the village Château de Tiffauges - Château de Tiffauges
  6. 5 : km 6.01 - alt. 86 m - Croix de la Barre
  7. 6 : km 7.29 - alt. 112 m - RD149
  8. 7 : km 8.94 - alt. 105 m - Croix de la Petitière
  9. 8 : km 10.7 - alt. 87 m - Crossing the stream
  10. S/E : km 12.14 - alt. 104 m - Parking Place Clémenceau

Worth a visit

Tiffauges Castle, also known as Bluebeard's Castle because of Gilles de Rais, its most famous resident. Clinging to a granite spur on the border of three former provinces: Brittany, Anjou and Poitou, the castle was built in the 12th century by Geoffroy de Thouars. It consists of a 700-metre enclosure reinforced by 18 towers. The château was attacked many times, burned down in 1569 during the Wars of Religion and dismantled by royal decree in 1626. It played a role in the Battle of Torfou, the last Vendée victory, on 19 September 1793. It is a conservatory of medieval war machines.

Pierre Tournisse
Or "rocking stone", it is a granite ball nearly 5 metres high, with a circumference of over 21 metres: it is not a menhir but a "rowler", i.e. a naturally occurring mineral block resting on a rock head, whose strange shape is due to erosion. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve, when the church in Torfou strikes midnight, the stone turns three times. It is said that inside this stone are all the children who will be born in the village during the year and that every day it goes down to the river to give them a drink.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
manuuher
manuuher

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike offering a variety of landscapes, from the banks of the Sèvre to panoramic views of the battlefield. And it ends with the surprising Tournisse stone!
The path is very well marked, so it's hard to get lost.
It partly follows this much shorter trail, which I also did but which doesn't go all the way to Tiffauges.
There is very little road, which makes for a beautiful route

Machine-translated

MARTDomi
MARTDomi

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular. Varied landscapes.
Information panels for all ages line the route. Bluebeard's castle is worth a visit another time. The spinning stone makes you want to give it a go.
No particular difficulties, but the trail is not always marked, so you need to be vigilant.

Machine-translated

Balor
Balor

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike along very well-maintained trails.
The stone tower is not very well signposted, but it is well worth a detour!

Machine-translated

CATHE85
CATHE85

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, although some of the blue markings are missing (in certain places) or faded (could do with a lick of paint).
At point 8, we looked for a way to get around or pass "La Pierre Tournisse": there are two possible paths and at this point, there are no blue markings!
Similarly, to reach the dead end by the stream, there were no signs. Should we take the path on the left? Or go via the waste collection point?

However, it was a very pleasant hike.

Machine-translated

MSmarcelsalmon
MSmarcelsalmon

This route is superb: it is worth doing again in spring around May and in autumn when the leaves are falling to enjoy the colours.

Machine-translated

MNoëlle Chauvire
MNoëlle Chauvire

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, the paths are very pleasant, well maintained and the landscapes varied. The signposting is not very precise and sometimes difficult to spot. It is really necessary to have the map and the app in your pocket.

Machine-translated

GR 8596
GR 8596

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk along the banks of the Sevres

Machine-translated

MSmarcelsalmon
MSmarcelsalmon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thanks to the hiker who mapped out and commented on this route, as the local signage is faded blue and too sparse.

Machine-translated

MSmarcelsalmon
MSmarcelsalmon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is great.
Luckily, with the Visorando app, it was easy to follow, otherwise the blue markings are faded and too few and far between.
This autumn season, with its colours and golden leaves, is wonderful for photos.
Thank you to the hiker who described this hike!

Machine-translated

rochesmaines
rochesmaines

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
We really enjoyed this hike that we did starting from Tiffauges.
Kind regards
M.T.LERIN

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking East of Tiffauges via Le Longeron

Visorando member
A l'Est de Tiffauges via Le Longeron
↔12.73 km ↗+172 m ↘-170 m ◔4h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Torfou (Maine-et-Loire)
Starting from Tiffauges and its feudal castle ruins, we set off along the beautiful Sèvre stream to the south of Le Longeron. The return journey is initially along small roads and then along paths again.

Walking From La Grossière to Tiffauges

Visorando member
↔9.05 km ↗+57 m ↘-59 m ◔2h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Boussay (Loire-Atlantique) (Loire-Atlantique)
Apart from the start on a small road, this short hike mainly follows both banks of the Sèvre Nantaise in a setting that I never tire of, whatever the season or time of day.

Walking Circular route between Tiffauges and Boussay along the Sèvre river

Visorando member
Boucle entre Tiffauges et Boussay le long de la Sèvre
↔15.60 km ↗+134 m ↘-126 m ◔4h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tiffauges (Vendée)
This route offers magnificent views of Tiffauges Castle, especially at the end, or what remains of it, the famous Bluebeard's Castle. It runs largely along the Sèvre Nantaise stream. Note that this route can be shortened halfway by taking the Pont de la Grossière bridge. This halves the time and distance for little legs. On the other hand, the second part is wilder and more bucolic.

Walking Circular of the Sèvre Nantaise valley in Mortagne

Visorando member
Boucle de la vallée de la Sèvre Nantaise à Mortagne
↔25.25 km ↗+253 m ↘-258 m ◔7h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Tiffauges (Vendée)
This large circular route can be completed in a long day. It is part of a series of circular routes of varying lengths that allow you to discover the magnificent Sèvre Nantaise valley between Clisson and Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. This section starts at the Moulin de la Roche in the commune of Tiffauges and goes to the foot of Mortagne, returning by different paths but always favouring the banks of the Sèvre.

Walking The Sèvre stream around Longeron and Saint-Aubin-des-Ormeaux

Visorando member
La Sèvre Nantaise autour de Longeron et Saint-Aubin-des-Ormeaux
↔12.54 km ↗+180 m ↘-181 m ◔4h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tiffauges (Vendée)
This is not the Calvary route, but there are many calvaries along this route between the countryside and the riverbank. The route includes as many paths as possible and a few very peaceful minor roads when there is no other choice.

Walking The banks of the Sèvre

Tourist office
Les bords de Sèvre
↔9.11 km ↗+119 m ↘-116 m ◔2h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Le Longeron (Maine-et-Loire)
Set off to explore ancient mills and the Grotte à Brunet cave along this wild trail. This 9km walk offers many points of interest along the river.

Walking The banks of the Sèvre in the land of Bluebeard

Visorando member
↔11.06 km ↗+114 m ↘-122 m ◔3h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Le Longeron (Maine-et-Loire)
A family walk along the banks of the Sèvre Stream, one of the most beautiful rivers in this region.

Walking Circular from Boussay to Tiffauges

Visorando member
Boucle de Boussay à Tiffauges
↔17.18 km ↗+102 m ↘-102 m ◔5h 10 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from La Bruffière (Vendée)
This circular route takes us from Boussay to Tiffauges, close to the beautiful Sèvre Nantaise valley, and returns via very peaceful country lanes.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.